A list of 123 national policy tasks for the next five years was finalized on Sept. 16. Shown is President Lee Jae Myung (third from left) that day chairing a Cabinet meeting at Government Complex-Sejong in Sejong. (Yonhap News)
By Yoon Sojung
A list of 123 national policy tasks under the government's five-year strategy for governance was finalized on Sept. 16.
Decided at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung at Government Complex-Sejong in Sejong, the tasks included proposed constitutional amendments for a two-term, four-year presidency and changes in the power structure.
The list was based on the screening, review and modifications at the government level of the Presidential Commission on Policy Planning's five-year national governance plan made on Aug. 13.
Under the vision "A nation where the people rule, a Republic of Korea where everyone is happy," the commission selected the administration's five national goals: politics that unite the people; a world-leading innovative economy; balanced growth to ensure prosperity for all; a society with strong fundamentals; and diplomacy and security focused on national interests.
Twenty-three implementation strategies and 123 policy tasks were finalized.
The top priority is constitutional amendments to reform the power structure like a four-year, two-term presidency and runoff election system. Other issues are putting the Board of Audit and Inspection under the National Assembly, restricting the president's veto power, and strengthening the legislature's control over emergency decrees and martial law declarations.
The government will also boost the basis for democracy by reforming the power structure like separating investigation and prosecution functions and abolishing martial law control, the Defense Counterintelligence Command and Korea National Police Agency.
To build an innovative economy, the government will build an independent artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem and AI highway to make Korea one of the world's top three AI powers. For this, it will expand the national budget for research and development to 5% of government spending and create a research-friendly environment to make the nation a top-five world leader in science and technology.
It will also foster new growth industries such as AI and biohealth, innovate key sectors like semiconductors and secondary batteries, and launch the National Growth Fund worth KRW 150 trillion.
Tasks for balanced national growth include completion of the administrative capital of Sejong; launch of the second phase of relocation of public agencies; adjustment of the debts of small businesses; pursuit of public housing supply; and introduction of a basic income in farming and fishing villages.
In diplomacy and security, objectives seek to upgrade the "three-axis defense system" to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and the transfer of wartime operational control within President Lee's term. Others include promoting inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation, signing a basic agreement between both Koreas and strengthening exports of the defense industry.
For society, the government will reduce the incidence of industrial disasters, improve the basic livelihood guarantee system and build an integrated caring structure. It will also expand child care benefits, gradually raise the retirement age and remove blind spots in pension coverage to tackle the population crisis.
"As the president of the entire people, I will use the 123 national policy tasks reflecting the will of the sovereign people as a compass to change their lives and create a Republic of Korea that leads the world," President Lee said. "We will also stop at nothing to supplement and implement national tasks."
arete@korea.kr
